Design and Development of Functionalized Single-walled Carbon Nanotube-ethosomes for Transdermal Delivery of Ketoprofen.

The purpose of this study was to combine carbon nanotube with ethosomes in order to obtain hybrid nanocarriers for transdermal delivery of ketoprofen (KP). KP-loaded functionalized single-walled carbon nanotube (f-SWCNTs) composite ethosomes (f-SWCNTs-KP-ES) were designed and were verified by a series of characterizations. The particle size of the preparation is less than 400 nm. DSC and XRD experiments showed that KP existed in an amorphous state after it was adsorbed and loaded on f-SWCNTs. TEM experiments showed that the structure of SWCNTs remained intact after oxidation and modification by PEI. FTIR results showed that PEI were successfully modified on the surface of SWCNT-COOH, and KP was successfully loaded on f-SWCNTs. In vitro release characteristics showed that the preparation had sustained release behavior and conformed to the first-order kinetic equation model. In addition, f-SWCNTs-KP-ES gel were prepared and in vitro skin permeation and in vivo pharmacokinetics were studied. The results showed that f-SWCNTs-KP-ES gel could enhance the skin permeation rate of KP and increase the drug retention of drugs in the skin. The characterization results consistently showed f-SWCNTs is a promising drug carrier. The hybrid nanocarrier prepared by the combination of f-SWCNTs and ethosomes can enhance the transdermal absorption of drugs and improve the bioavailability of drugs, which has a certain significance for the development of advanced hybrid nano-preparations.